A clean desktop on my iMac makes life seem less stressful and offers a good metaphor for life: Clean your heart, simplify your life!

There’s always been something about a clean space that has made me think, work, create better. Perhaps that’s one way I am made in the Image and Likeness of God; for, He too began with a clean slate… actually, He began with a “formless wasteland and darkness covered the abyss.” Now, I’ll admit my iMac may at times seem like a formless wasteland as I get in a rut of saving things too quickly to my desktop, but what a wonderful feeling to see it all wiped clean and witness the beauty of the picture that lies underneath.

This, too, is how I feel in life sometimes. I get in a rut with sin… same old sins, just increasing in quality and quantity and piling up on the desktop of my soul. How blessed I am to have the forgiveness of my Heavenly Father. To know, without doubt, that the Sacrament of Reconciliation brings forgiveness of sins and a restoring to God’s grace is one of my favorite things about being Catholic. The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that those receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation with a contrite heart experience a true spiritual resurrection, which is followed by a peace and serenity of conscience. That’s it! That is the beauty I experience as I am joined in an intimate friendship with my Creator. That is the wiping clean of my spiritual desktop and a revealing of the beauty God has placed in me, the beauty of His image, the ultimate screensaver!

Sometimes a clean desktop is all I need to ensure a good night’s sleep, but always a clean soul is what I need to ensure serenity of heart… and safeguard me from having to undergo a total reboot.

About the Author:

Kelly Wahlquist is a wife, mother of three, inspiring Catholic author and speaker residing in Minnesota. She is the founder of WINE: Women In the New Evangelization, Assistant Director for the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute, and contributing writer for Catholicmom.com. Her book Created to Relate: God’s Design for Peace & Joy encourages and inspires women to live fully their beautiful God-given gifts for building relationships. She is the creator and editor of Walk in Her Sandals: Experiencing Christ’s Passion through the Eyes of Women. Kelly travels the country speaking to all on topics that inspire us to live the New Evangelization, but has a special love for speaking at Catholic women’s events.

Photo courtesy of Kelly Wahlquist. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

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WINE is a creative and inspired ministry to invigorate women's groups and parishes through encouraging, supporting, and nurturing women in the Catholic faith and by equipping and mobilizing women as intentional disciples of Christ.